Macnica (Macnica, head office location: 1-6-3 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, President: Kiyoshi Nakashima, capital: 11,194 million yen), which imports, sells, and develops semiconductors and network equipment ALTIMA Company has entered into an agency agreement with Cassia Networks, which develops the next generation BLE Router that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to achieve long-distance communication and multi-device connectivity. We are pleased to announce that we will start selling IoT Access Controller Software (hereinafter referred to as Access Controller) from July 2018, which centrally manages BLE Routers and wristband watches that can obtain vital information. In addition, Macnica ALTIMA Company will be exhibiting Cassia Networks products at "Discovery"* hosted by SORACOM.

Conventionally, BLE, which is a short-range communication method, is widely used in smartphones, IoT devices, and wearable devices. However, BLE has problems such as long-distance transmission and inability to connect to multiple terminals. Cassia Networks BLE Router E1000 (Router for Indoor use) and X1000 (Router for Indoor/Outdoor use) from Cassia Networks, which will be on sale this time, are equipped with a unique technology (patented) that dramatically improves antenna sensitivity. With a communication distance of 300M or more, simultaneous connection with up to 40 terminals is realized. In addition, the company's BLE Router can connect to any BLE terminal configured based on the GATT profile, so users can select a wide range of BLE terminals.

The products provided by the company provide the following added value to end users and service providers who utilize IoT and wearable terminals.

1. No need to introduce a smartphone, etc. for BLE connection
2. It is possible to use BLE terminals such as commercially available wearable bands and wearable shirts.
3. Access Controller can be used to centrally manage and operate multiple Cassia Routers on the cloud.

Macnica ALTIMA Company will strengthen collaboration with a wide range of partner companies (hardware, software, data analysis, servers, cloud vendors, etc.) as we handle Cassia Networks. We are already collaborating with partner companies such as Agx and Collesta to improve the working environment by managing worker health using wristband watches provided by Cassia Networks, and to improve safety in facilities by monitoring the elderly. We are gradually starting initiatives to build connected services and conduct demonstration experiments.

This agency agreement was reached between Cassia Networks, which has its own technology for long-distance BLE connection and multiple device connection, and Macnica ALTIMA Company Company, a technology trading company with a wide range of customers and many IoT partners, with the aim of strengthening the development of the IoT-related market for BLE. Utilizing the Company wide range of customers and technical capabilities, we will contribute to the spread of the BLE and IoT market and actively work to collaborate with many customers.

* 2018/7/4 SORACOM Conference "Discovery" 2018
For details, please see the website (https://discovery2018.soracom.jp/?ref=g06).

*Company names and product names mentioned in the text are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.